The Day the Earth Stood Still
Twentieth Century Fox Film Corporation | Release Date: December 12, 2008
4.7
USER SCORE
Mixed or average reviews based on 259 Ratings
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Positive:
82
Mixed:
87
Negative:
90
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User Reviews

User scoreBy dateMost helpful
1
sidb.Dec 30, 2008
The beginning of the movie seemed to be going somewhere but honestly this movie was terrible. What were the people making this movie thinking honestly? They have known what people would think of this film. Just terrible. Even worst than War The beginning of the movie seemed to be going somewhere but honestly this movie was terrible. What were the people making this movie thinking honestly? They have known what people would think of this film. Just terrible. Even worst than War of the Worlds. Don't waste your time seeing this.… Expand
1 of 1 users found this helpful
2
M.M.Mar 4, 2009
Terrible movie. I give it a 2 for Jennifer Connelly and Keanu Reeves who did their best with the horrible script and some decent cgi. I thought Jaden Smith was acting bad and more importantly..annoying and distracting as hell. He might be Terrible movie. I give it a 2 for Jennifer Connelly and Keanu Reeves who did their best with the horrible script and some decent cgi. I thought Jaden Smith was acting bad and more importantly..annoying and distracting as hell. He might be cute for comedies with his funny hair but he can't do dramatic scenes with subjects like losing a parent. There a lots of better child actors out there. His character was useless and distracting for the movie. But that is also the fault of the screen writer and the director. Ever heard of pacing?? And also ever heard of the audience sympathizing for at least one of the characters?? Avoid if you can. Dumb remake with unsympathetic characters including a very irritating Jaden Smith.… Expand
1 of 1 users found this helpful
1
MarsPJan 27, 2009
I really don't get how you can 100 million dollars on a movie and then have a complete idiot write the script. Why,o why, would you greet our first interstellar visitor with a bullet and "enhanced interrogation" techniques?
1 of 1 users found this helpful
2
JPS.Jan 4, 2009
Boring movie. If they had edited down to a 30 minute short it might have been exciting.
1 of 1 users found this helpful
3
ClifC.Mar 2, 2009
The only thing I really appreciated were the special effects. But Keanu Reeves simply can't act. The end is so bad, I really didn't like it. Plus, there's absolutely nothing to say about the story, it' quite boring.
1 of 1 users found this helpful
2
bradbApr 11, 2009
One of the five worst (not worse) films of 2008. Pathetically dreadful. Only character of interest was John Cleese.There needs to be a movie remake committee somewhere that can stop a green light on this crap!
1 of 1 users found this helpful
1
landonwApr 10, 2009
A one for special effects, now the real part of the movie review, im a fan of the 1951, and keanu is good in sci-fi, BUT jenifers staring & wonder at this great alien & his robot is not enough to say this has epic action, just the opposite. A one for special effects, now the real part of the movie review, im a fan of the 1951, and keanu is good in sci-fi, BUT jenifers staring & wonder at this great alien & his robot is not enough to say this has epic action, just the opposite. They Fail miserably in the movie is with GORT, simply they dont stop him like in the original or really even try too, He only stares and has less screen time then Darth Maul did! enuff said!… Expand
1 of 1 users found this helpful
1
TeddyDec 14, 2008
Awful is an understatement. There was no suspense, a poorly written script, and no character development. Even when they had the opportunity to do something out of this world the director missed the opportunity as he seemed to color his Awful is an understatement. There was no suspense, a poorly written script, and no character development. Even when they had the opportunity to do something out of this world the director missed the opportunity as he seemed to color his picture by the numbers. How can you take a classic and turn it into this garbage. Avoid.… Expand
1 of 1 users found this helpful
0
DarwinDec 21, 2008
Dreadful film that is slow moving without any character development. With just a little imagination it could have been so much more. An embarrassment to share the same title as the 1951 classic. Keanu Reeves sleepwalks through his role. Dreadful film that is slow moving without any character development. With just a little imagination it could have been so much more. An embarrassment to share the same title as the 1951 classic. Keanu Reeves sleepwalks through his role. Terribly disappointing.… Expand
1 of 1 users found this helpful
0
LolitaDec 21, 2008
Pretty lame flick without any suspense. It was so bad I started laughing at some of the dialog. Keanu Reeves is a joke. Who makes these things? Idiots?
1 of 1 users found this helpful
1
GuyG.Dec 27, 2008
One of the worse movies I've ever seen. The movie totally betways the intended story line. More time is spent discussing the live of the main femail character and her inter-racial son than the story line. The movie fails to caputre your One of the worse movies I've ever seen. The movie totally betways the intended story line. More time is spent discussing the live of the main femail character and her inter-racial son than the story line. The movie fails to caputre your interest, the acting was extremely bad. I urge you to never see this movie.… Expand
1 of 1 users found this helpful
1
BrockMApr 29, 2009
This is possible the worst movie ever made. It was worse than The Day After Tomorrow and the Core put together. The script is terrible, the best actor is the large sentinel thing and worst of all, nothing happens! The worst bits of hollywood This is possible the worst movie ever made. It was worse than The Day After Tomorrow and the Core put together. The script is terrible, the best actor is the large sentinel thing and worst of all, nothing happens! The worst bits of hollywood mega "event" movies distilled into one big mess. Rubbish… Expand
1 of 1 users found this helpful
0
LaneDec 13, 2008
Lame. No sane investor could ever sanction the money they spent to make this ridiculous film unless they wanted to go broke. No bailout for this crapola.
1 of 1 users found this helpful
0
S.DeanDec 14, 2008
Basically, this movie is about Global Warming. With a terrible subject as it's foundation, and horrid story poorly draped over it, this movie had no chance. The CG even looked bad.
1 of 1 users found this helpful
0
BeatriceDec 18, 2008
What have we become? To even call this movie by the same name as the black and white classic is an insult. For those of you who liked or even loved this movie I would suggest that you rent the original and then you will understand how What have we become? To even call this movie by the same name as the black and white classic is an insult. For those of you who liked or even loved this movie I would suggest that you rent the original and then you will understand how terrible a movie this is. You need to check your brains in at the door as there is nothing suspenseful or interesting. Keanu Reeves must have a death wish because this is as bad as it gets. Horrible flick.… Expand
1 of 1 users found this helpful
0
AaronDec 21, 2008
To those of you who are taken in with the childlike computer generated special effects who don't know any better, I suggest you watch the black and white 1951 original classic. Then you'll understand what a good movie truly is. To those of you who are taken in with the childlike computer generated special effects who don't know any better, I suggest you watch the black and white 1951 original classic. Then you'll understand what a good movie truly is. This remake is total garbage not worthy of being mentioned in the same breath with the original.… Expand
1 of 1 users found this helpful
1
AlgoreDec 22, 2008
See what happens if you don't listen to me? That was me Al as GORT. I had as big a part as I did as VP. Yeah the movie makes no sense and after about a half hour in you realize you have been taken. Those diamond mosquito's are now See what happens if you don't listen to me? That was me Al as GORT. I had as big a part as I did as VP. Yeah the movie makes no sense and after about a half hour in you realize you have been taken. Those diamond mosquito's are now on the endangered list. LOL… Expand
1 of 1 users found this helpful
0
MartDFeb 27, 2009
One of the worse ever seen...
1 of 1 users found this helpful
0
GnushBApr 12, 2009
One of the worst sci-fis of all time. Story doesn't make sense, terrible dialogue and bad acting. Jaden Smith can't be cast in another movie. That is nepotism. Boy CANNOT act!!!!!! He ruins every movie he's in.
1 of 1 users found this helpful
2
StuJApr 28, 2009
Cannot believe how bad this is. The interrelationship between the robot and Klatu never explained? The day everything stood still?? The famous line we all ran around saying to each other as kids? eeves was well cast -- a part requiring no Cannot believe how bad this is. The interrelationship between the robot and Klatu never explained? The day everything stood still?? The famous line we all ran around saying to each other as kids? eeves was well cast -- a part requiring no acting fits him ever so well. A massive demonstration of Hollywood bungling. Special effects do not a movie make. I need to rewatch the original to purge any memory of this from my mind.… Expand
1 of 1 users found this helpful
0
SquallDec 13, 2008
The begging quesion is Keanu Reeves alive. More importantly does anyone care? This may be one of the worst most boring movies of the year. A definite contender for a Razzberry.
1 of 1 users found this helpful
3
DaveS.Dec 14, 2008
It was ok until the anti-climatic ending when the world is lift with a bunch of dead metal bugs and no power.
1 of 1 users found this helpful
0
FrankGDec 21, 2008
The plot makes no sense, the script is illogical and the acting is poor. The kid adds nothing to the story or the mood of the movie. What's particularly sad is that the film makers didn't seem to get the idea of the original, The plot makes no sense, the script is illogical and the acting is poor. The kid adds nothing to the story or the mood of the movie. What's particularly sad is that the film makers didn't seem to get the idea of the original, fabulous, movie from the 50's. There's a reason that the original is a kind of cultural icon--it works on many levels, it's entertaining. With virtually no special effects beyond those implied by the story, the power involved was clear. In this new version, Keanu seems sometimes to have extraordinary powers, sometimes not. He never seems either smart or wise.… Expand
1 of 1 users found this helpful
0
GeorgeKDec 21, 2008
Walked out! Terrible acting. Played-out storyline.
1 of 1 users found this helpful
1
NiceKidDec 22, 2008
Keanu Reeves was going for a terrible Arnold Swartssnagger (spelled wrong srry) theme with his acting. You couldn't tell if he wasn't trying to act or if he was trying to hard.
1 of 1 users found this helpful
3
RickKApr 11, 2009
Sad sad remake of a great movie. Lame updating, and the messege get conveluted. The filmmakers took one of the greatest robots of classic scifi and completely screwed it up. Sad sad movie.
2 of 3 users found this helpful
0
MikeHAug 29, 2009
What happened? seriously... did the original make sense? cos this one didn't... from what i could understand it appeared that aliens came to earth to kill everyone then halfway through decided to take pity on humans and left the planet, What happened? seriously... did the original make sense? cos this one didn't... from what i could understand it appeared that aliens came to earth to kill everyone then halfway through decided to take pity on humans and left the planet, leaving us without any form of technology as punishment or something. a 40/100 is definitely more than it deserves.… Expand
1 of 2 users found this helpful
3
paulgMay 13, 2009
The plot is flawed. and acting is so rigid that any emotion is lost. keanu reeves proves yet once again that unless he has a shades on he is terrible.
1 of 2 users found this helpful
2
NealFMay 17, 2009
Predictable and pushing a green agenda.
1 of 2 users found this helpful
1
RobertBJun 6, 2009
Thank you Keanu Reeves and thank you 20th century fox for ruining a classic.
1 of 2 users found this helpful
2
JayM.Aug 26, 2009
Exemplifies all that is wrong with Hollywood films: an unnecessary remake, an overwrought script, and a director too enamored with special effects for their own sake. Utterly lacking in every department. Charmless.
1 of 2 users found this helpful
1
h-h-h-heinoj.Aug 28, 2009
One of the worst movies ever. Nevertheless, not the worst.
1 of 2 users found this helpful
2
RonnieR.Dec 13, 2008
Politically correct non-sense!
1 of 2 users found this helpful
2
JAM123Aug 5, 2011
Another failed attempt at making a remake of a fantastic classic. I can see where they were going when they got Keanu Reeves to play klatuu. He's your perfect stone faced actor with one expression and he did this part well. But this movieAnother failed attempt at making a remake of a fantastic classic. I can see where they were going when they got Keanu Reeves to play klatuu. He's your perfect stone faced actor with one expression and he did this part well. But this movie failed hard to bring back the classic 1951 film by the same name. This movie for one was rushed and that got me angry. NOT a good movie and do not recommend it.… Expand
1 of 2 users found this helpful11
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1
AntwianF.Mar 10, 2009
Keanu sucks. the movie goes no where and will 's boy is the only halfway decent spotlight in this tragedy of a remake.
0 of 1 users found this helpful
1
[Anonymous]Dec 16, 2008
What a poor excuse for a movie. No sympathetic characters. No excitement. No (intentional) laughs. Low-rent effects. Bogus message. "Happy ending" is that the aliens don't kill us, just stop all our machines. Care to estimate how many What a poor excuse for a movie. No sympathetic characters. No excitement. No (intentional) laughs. Low-rent effects. Bogus message. "Happy ending" is that the aliens don't kill us, just stop all our machines. Care to estimate how many billions would starve due to no tractors to pull plows, no trucks to move produce, no refrigerators to keep food fresh? Kinder just to wipe them out, no? I've watched other "message" movies that were feeble logically, but were made tolerable because there were characters to identify with, or worthy special effects, or a good laugh or two. This one has nothing to recommend it. I went to IMDB and rated it a 1. Then I hunted down the other 3 movies I had rated as 1s and bumped each of them up to 2. Why must message films always be made by production teams that are ashamed of being human?… Expand
0 of 1 users found this helpful
2
PhilipF.Dec 13, 2008
First off, i thought keanu reeves would ruin this movie, but i'll say that he played a decent klaatu. What ruined this movie, is the combination of environmental propaganda, severely bad (and completely unnecessary) product placement, First off, i thought keanu reeves would ruin this movie, but i'll say that he played a decent klaatu. What ruined this movie, is the combination of environmental propaganda, severely bad (and completely unnecessary) product placement, the over use of CG, and a poor replication of the very few similar scenes in the original. it was pointless to remake, the original is still much better. if you have seen the classic version in black and white, you will walk of out this movie half-disgusted.… Expand
0 of 1 users found this helpful
1
mthrndrSep 4, 2010
This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. I created an account just to express my contempt for this movie. Started out interestingly enough, and devolves into a classic Hollywood 'Hurr-Durr humans are killing de Earff, durr!'

So let me get this right: there are only a handful of planets in the universe capable of complex life, according to the film. Therefore we assume that the races who sent klaatu evolved in a similar manner to us. Yet humans are beyond saving because of some hollywood writers' idea of global warming or other claptrap. What about those other races? did they just jump from amoebas to transcendent beings, and totally bypass their industrial and economic revolutions that require planetary resources? I guess so. Oh well, nothing a few equations written with John Cleese won't fix.… Expand
0 of 2 users found this helpful02
All this user's reviews
1
SimonM.Dec 13, 2008
Go see the 1951 version, it was waaaaaaaaaaaay better.
0 of 0 users found this helpful
3
RockyB.Dec 12, 2008
A complete disaster in every way, acting, script, new ideas they're all terrible. There's never a moment when you're scared, intigued or even bothered about how it all ends. You feel no empathy for the human race at all, A complete disaster in every way, acting, script, new ideas they're all terrible. There's never a moment when you're scared, intigued or even bothered about how it all ends. You feel no empathy for the human race at all, where's the city destruction and human loss? The heart srings are never pulled on and by the time anything of significance happens you're already mentally in the car park thinking about what you'll be doing when you get home. It's hard to Judge Reeves on his acting as it's (purposely) wooden but it still seems bad, the child actor, a part which could have made this film as the alien started to feel what humanity was all about is just rubbish.… Expand
0 of 0 users found this helpful
3
JimS.Dec 13, 2008
This movie was not as good as the orignal as far as the acting was concerned. Keanu didn't do the movie any favors with his lackluster, emotionless performance. Jennifer's acting was fine. Special effects were nothing special and This movie was not as good as the orignal as far as the acting was concerned. Keanu didn't do the movie any favors with his lackluster, emotionless performance. Jennifer's acting was fine. Special effects were nothing special and below average for a modern sci-fi flick.… Expand
0 of 0 users found this helpful
2
WayneL.Dec 15, 2008
Poorly written and incoherent. Amazing special effects (even in IMAX) cannot give life to this dog.
0 of 0 users found this helpful
0
JohnE.Dec 22, 2008
compared to the original is sucked, compared to anything it sucked. what a waste of time and money. this would have been better if it had been made by a complete retard running around with his head on fire. A remake of the day the earth compared to the original is sucked, compared to anything it sucked. what a waste of time and money. this would have been better if it had been made by a complete retard running around with his head on fire. A remake of the day the earth stood stil needed to be made, but this is not what is should have been by any strech of the imagination. Please stephen speilberg redo this redo.… Expand
0 of 0 users found this helpful
1
KyleT.Dec 12, 2008
Terrible,terrible movie.
0 of 0 users found this helpful
3
DarrenK.Dec 13, 2008
sanctimonious drivel.
0 of 0 users found this helpful
0
FantasyDec 13, 2008
No one loves science fiction movies more than I do. I saw the original and must have seen it 20 times since then. Michael Rennie was terrific. It was with great anticipation that I was looking forward to the remake. After seeing it this No one loves science fiction movies more than I do. I saw the original and must have seen it 20 times since then. Michael Rennie was terrific. It was with great anticipation that I was looking forward to the remake. After seeing it this evening there aren't words to describe how awful this turkey was. Keanu Reeves sleepwalks through the film as if he was a zombie. His fellow actors had to be embarrassed by the finished product because this was like Chinese Water torture as it meandered along oh so slow. There was nothing frightening, no suspense, no character development, no nothing. And the ending was so lame that theater goers were actually angry walking out of the movie. Save your hard earned dollars because this is one bad film.… Expand
0 of 0 users found this helpful
3
JOELS.Dec 13, 2008
Not nearly as well done as the original.
0 of 0 users found this helpful
2
JohnT.Dec 12, 2008
One of the worst movies I have ever seen.
0 of 0 users found this helpful
3
ChuckO.Dec 16, 2008
Not even a good popcorn movie.
0 of 0 users found this helpful
2
Tib3rianAug 11, 2014
Atypical, but also unprecedently bad film processing, extreme stupidly presented main movie ideas and reasoning between characters on 3th american school grade level. Story almost says nothing logic and someone claim meaning of this movie asAtypical, but also unprecedently bad film processing, extreme stupidly presented main movie ideas and reasoning between characters on 3th american school grade level. Story almost says nothing logic and someone claim meaning of this movie as main positive???!!!!! Well there is original view on invasion-apocalypse theme, unlike Independence Day style, and interesting visual-audio aesthetics. Good acting by main protagonist, and tension, to make people to think about their preferences in live, and about ways of our race. 2/10 for that… Expand
0 of 0 users found this helpful00
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3
qamasterMar 31, 2017
This is a very naive movie. I was especially amused by the look of a giant. A film, like, not exactly for children. I do not want to enumerate all the stupidities of the plot, because they are not too few there. Nevertheless, the film can beThis is a very naive movie. I was especially amused by the look of a giant. A film, like, not exactly for children. I do not want to enumerate all the stupidities of the plot, because they are not too few there. Nevertheless, the film can be watched if one is not too demanding on logic and common sense, because in the film there are not bad spectacular scenes… Expand
0 of 0 users found this helpful00
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1
Viper8787Apr 18, 2014
Out of all the movie I have seen in my life this is my least favourite. I have never fallen asleep watching a movie and this one almost had me falling asleep. Nothing interesting happened in it and was so boring. I was actually lookingOut of all the movie I have seen in my life this is my least favourite. I have never fallen asleep watching a movie and this one almost had me falling asleep. Nothing interesting happened in it and was so boring. I was actually looking forward to watching this one but holy was it bad. Don't watch this movie you will not enjoy it.… Expand
0 of 0 users found this helpful00
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3
MarickJun 30, 2015
One of the worst movies. I understand that he wants to be a remake and may bring tribute or something. But he never fails to keep me tied to monitor .
0 of 0 users found this helpful00
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3
ChaChaChaiJan 13, 2016
Booooring. Just a collection of stares and very poor dialogue. I think the main actors were overacting, but they were probably trying their best with the awful script. Special effects were not bad for 2008.
0 of 0 users found this helpful00
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0
FilipeNetoDec 19, 2019
Not worth wasting time trying to see this movie.

This movie is a remake of another 1951 film, where the human race first contacts an alien entity, which lands on the lawn of New York's Central Park. Immediately surrounded by the entire stateNot worth wasting time trying to see this movie.

This movie is a remake of another 1951 film, where the human race first contacts an alien entity, which lands on the lawn of New York's Central Park. Immediately surrounded by the entire state security apparatus, only one scientist, Dr. Helen Benson, can actually dialogue with the visitor and realize their true intentions.

Well, I didn't see the original movie, so I can't compare them. However, I don't need to do this to conclude that this movie had no reason to be if the idea was to make such a bland movie. Totally forgettable, it has no emotion or any kind of feeling. It is an absolutely empty, almost robotic movie. The script is very poor and the pace of the film is so uneven it becomes unpleasant. It all starts very suddenly, and the first ten minutes of the movie are mind-blowing and make the viewer think "Wow! Let's take it easy!" But from the moment the ship lands, everything slows down, with the movie dragging at certain times. Scott Derrickson ensured the accomplishment, but he did it so coldly, so bland and lifeless that I felt like breathing for a bottle of oxygen. Maybe he should refrain from directing sci-fi movies.

The cast is full of capable names, but the material given them has turned them into freshmen who have just emerged from drama schools. Jennifer Connelly has done such a good job on "Requiem for a Dream" that it's hard to recognize her here. She seemed totally oblivious to what she was doing, uninspired. The same can be said of John Cleese, in a brief appearance but which gave us, I think, the best interpretation this film has to give to its audience. Honestly, I never really liked Keanu Reeves, I always thought that he has a face that looks like a wooden board, since he never moves a muscle regardless of the character's emotions. So I think you were decent in the role of an alien ... maybe the actor is a real one. Finally, Jaden Smith brilliantly manages to supplant Dakota Fanning in "War of the Worlds" (2005) and become the most utterly unbearable idiot brat I've ever seen in a movie.

Forget the special and visual effects the movie has, forget the technical details and the cinematography, and all those things I usually talk about a movie. None of this is any good here, because the movie is bad anyway. In fact, it's not worth the time to see it.… Expand
0 of 0 users found this helpful00
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